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Browse alphabetically through more than 9,000 words in Dickinson’s poetry, as defined in the Emily Dickinson Lexicon, based in part on her dictionary, Webster's 1844 American Dictionary of the English Language.

J329 - So glad we are -- a Stranger'd deem

So glad we are -- a Stranger'd deem
'Twas sorry, that we were --
For where the Holiday should be
There publishes a Tear --
Nor how Ourselves be justified --
Since Grief and Joy are done
So similar -- An Optizan
Could not decide between --

About Work

Work Metadata

Year

1862

Manuscript

Manuscripts: There are two, both written about 1862. That
reproduced above (Bingham), signed "Emily -- ," was sent to
Samuel Bowles. It is a redaction of the semifinal draft in packet
84 (Bingham 27c).
So glad we are -- a stranger'd deem
'Twas sorry -- that we were --
For where the Holiday -- should be --
There publishes -- a Tear.
Nor how Ourselves be justified --
Since Grief and Joy are done
So similar -- an Optizan
Could not discern between --
4.publishes] Bustles but 8. discern] conclude -- / decide --
One of the changes suggested for line 8 ("decide") is adopted.
"Optizan" is evidently a "made word," presumably meaning one
skilled in the science of optIcs.